"But she finally discovered that Jeanne was unhappy, and that was too much for her to bear. She realized then that she was being punished for her wrong. And so she decided that before it was too late she would confess!"
"So she told you this terrible story?" asked Madame d'Artrot.
"Yes, and asked me to see Madame Villard," replied the Major.
"And when will you break this news to Madame?" the Major's wife inquired.
"I have already done so," he answered quietly. "That is, I called upon Madame Villard before leaving Paris. I told her that I had traced her lost grandchild. I told her that I wished her to come to our home to-morrow. But I did not tell her any more."
"Ah, poor Madame Villard! How happy I am for her! What a joy this will be for her!" sighed Madame d'Artrot.
The Major smiled and agreed with his wife.
"And what a joy for this poor little play-starved child!" he said, looking out of the window at the happy band of children.
They were romping and making the air ring with glad sounds.
The next morning Jeanne arose early. Being on a farm was something so different and thrilling to this child of the city that every noise outside her window seemed to call her.